A seething mother says a tattoo parlour left her 16-year-old daughter 'branded for life' after inking '100% Welsh Lamb' across her backside.

Police are investigating after under-age Levi Brady, from Fairwater, Cardiff, had the tattoo without being asked to prove her age.

Schoolgirl Levi had the tattoo for a dare and managed to keep it a secret from her family for two weeks. But when she injured her hip falling off a horse her horrified mother Renee spotted it for the first time.

'Branded': Levi Brady got the '100% Welsh Lamb' tattoo on her backside as a dare and managed to keep it a secret from her family for two weeks. She now regrets her decision

Innapropriate: Levi was with friends when she paid £30 for the blue ink design at the Tattooland parlour in Riverside, Cardiff

Mrs Brady, 38, said: 'The tattooist has branded a child as a piece of meat for the rest of her life.

'It is the most disgusting thing to have on a young girl and the location of the tattoo is grossly inappropriate - she is only 16.' Levi was with friends when she paid £30 for the blue ink design at the Tattooland parlour in Riverside, Cardiff.

But she immediately regretted it and knew it was a 'stupid' thing to do.

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Mrs Brady said: 'I couldn't believe she had done such a silly thing - but the law is there to protect young people from themselves.

'People in these establishments have a duty to act responsibly rather than betraying the trust of parents.

'We need a system where every customer is logged and a photocopy of their ID is taken.' The law states that giving a tattoo to anyone under the age of 18 is illegal under the 1969 Tattooing on Minors Act.

Levi was yesterday making inquiries about having the tattoo removed by expensive laser treatment.

She said: 'I don't like it. It's not feminine - just a bit of writing permanently on me.

'It was a moment of madness - it looks stupid.' South Wales Police confirmed they were investigating a complaint against the tattoo parlour involving an under-age customer.

A spokesman said: 'We have interviewed the complainant and inquiries are ongoing.' The punishment for tattooing a minor is £50 fine - or £100 for a repeat conviction.

Cardiff Council Trading Standards are also investigating.

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Mother's fury as unde-rage daughter, 16, is tattooed with '100% Welsh Lamb' as a dare